Apparatus for oil well cementing



June 14, 1938. E, Vl CROWELL 2,120,694

APPARATUS FOR OIL WELL CEMENTING Filed June 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN T011?. Erd K Crm/@W grafik ne/22% A TTORNE Y.

June 14, 1938. E v CRQWELL, A y 2,120,694

APPARATUS FOR OIL WELL GEMENTING y Filed June 17, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f /7 INI/NTOR. Era @ran/6W y www, ma@

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Patented June 14,V 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT G'FFICE APPARATUS FOR. OIL WELL CEMENTING Erd V. Crowell, Los Angeles, Calif. Application June 17, 1935, Serial No. 27,041

33 Claims.

This invention relates generally to means for cementlng oil wells, principally to shut out water, as well as to support and protect the casing; and

is specifically directed toI a nov'el form of valve r', which is utilized to perform the three-fold functions; flrst, of a float valve to float the casing in; second, as part of a cementing plug, to actuate valve means to open lateral ports through i the wall of the casing; and third, to close the bore through the casing below said lateral ports,

thus to deflect the cementing mixture therethrough. 'I'his application is a continuation-inpart of my application for patent, filed December 5, 1932, on which Patent No. 2,071,389 issued, certain subject-matter thereof having been reserved for claiming herein. Other subject-matter of the present application has been claimed in myPatents No. 2,071,390 and No. 2,071,391. My copending applications, S. N. 133,413 and S. N. 119,986, filed March 27, 1937 and Jan. 11, 1936, respectively, are continuations-in-part of the present application. Manipulation of the great Weight of a lengthy string of `casing necessary in deep wells usually requires the employment of one or more float valves, 'to assure positive closure of the lower end of the string to pressure'outside thereof, thus to allow the casing to be floated by partial counteraction of its weight by the density of the fluid in the well, thereby to relieve excessive strain on the derrick, elevator, etc., and it is generally conceded that in deep wells, where the investment, is greatJ and every precaution must be taken, it lis good practice and cheap insurance to use more than one float valve in a casing.

f In the art of shutting oil? water in deep wells, prior to my invention, cement slurry, intended to be discharged by fluid pressure either through the bottom of the casing or through lateral ports therein, has had to pass through the restrictive mechanism of one or more float valves. Theconsiderable amount of time necessarily consumed in the process of mixing and pumping in, the increasing temperature encountered at great depths, the friction of the heavy cement slurry passing through several thousandfeet of casing, the consequent enormous pump pressure required combined with the thickening, effect of the obstructions in the float valve tends to hasten coagulation or-partial setting of the cementitious mixture and to prevent free flow thereof into recesses of the well bore around the casing shoe. Efforts to combat these diiculties have resulted in experiments with streamlined float valves, designed to reduce friction on the cement, but which It is a general object of' the present invention to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages by the provision of valvular means for floating a string of casing to position in a well bore, said means being adapted for use with conventional auxiliary float valve bodies, usually of lapideous material, and casing-shoe guides of similar composition, which after performing itsl functions as a float valve, by alteration of its position relative to a series of lateral ports in the casing,` may be utilized to direct cementitious material, driven by fluid pressure in a substantially unobstructed bore of the casing, through said ports, thus to avoid passingany cement through a float valve. A specific object of primary importance is to provide a float valve located above a series of lateral ports in a casing adapted to close the bore therethrough to pressure below said valve during preliminary positioning and circulation, f ,and which, by means of a plug preceding a quantity of cement, inserted in the casing, may be released to subsequently close the bore below the ports allowing continued pressure through the casing to discharge the cement through said ports.

Another object is the provision of lateral ports in a casing adapted by their shape to swirl cementitious material around the casing upon its discharge therefrom, thus to facilitate distribution of the material into recesses and cavities of the well bore and linsure thorough circulation around the casing.

It is a further object to provide a` plug carrying means slidably fitting the well casing adapted to be forcedvby uid pressure downwardly therethrough to actuate the float valve releasably supported in the well ca'sing to open ports and close the-bore of the well casing below the ports while said pressure fluid by-passes the plug downwardly through the casing' and out through the open ports. i

It is a further object to provide, if desired, an indicator plug to be forced down the well casing by fluid pressure in back of a quantity of cement and adapted to seat above thepoint of discharge of the cement, to close the bore of the casing to fluid pressure thereabove, thus leaving the washed cement or tailings in the casing for subsequent removal by drilling tools.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide the discharge ports with auxiliary valvuy .of hollow plug 34 will bring inward pressure to` bear against the bowed spring portions 30a and 30h crossing the lower ends thereof and withdrawing fingers 32 and 33 from holes 3I-3I as above generally described. Continued pressure through .the casing will cause packer 36 to engage valve seat 24, which prevents its further downward movement; plug 34 however will thereafter become `a part of valve 26 and is driven downwardly free of packer 36 forcing valve 26 through the bore of casing section I2 into the shoe I3, where the lower face of valve 26 will contact seat 40 provided on the upper rim of ring I9, compressing spring 20 and exposing lateral ports I4 to pressure thereabove. lAs the bore through shoe guide I6 is closed by the seating of valve 26 on ring I9, cement will be discharged through the ports I 4 into the space outside thereof, until indicator plug 31 contacts seat 24 of valve body 22, closing the bore, whereupon pressure above plug 31 will build up causing the surface pump to labor or stall, thus indicating to the operator the progress of the cement slurry.

By maintaining'a tight head on the well the cement is allowed to set and harden; the tailings of which cement left within the casing being later drilled out, together with lapideous valve body 22, plugs 34and 31, float valve26'and the shoe guide I6, in accord with general well known practice. The quantity of cement tailings it is desired to leave within the casing, variable with the length of pipe section I2, may be determined by` usual skill'in the art, being generally dependent upon the depth at which the cementlng operation is performed. I i

A float plug of conventional construction (Fig. 6) may be substituted for shoe guide I6, to insure against leaks While floating the casing to position. It will also be noted that I have provided a modified form of ring valve support consisting of a plurality of studs 42 protruding from the inner Wall of shoe guide I6 below ring I9 to support said ring adjacent the ports I4, said studs being composed of frangible material, capable of being sheared off by the pressure of valve 26 on the ring.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a device adapted to center and guide a casing in a well, having a float valve for the bore of the 4casing and lower end thereof, respectively, which combine and cooperate for use in a single string of casing to permit complete control of pressure differentials at all stages of operation, and to subsequently pump cement throughv a substantially unobstructed bore of the casing through ports therein. Free flow of-cement around-the casing will be facilitated by the automatic release of all float valve mechanism from the path of the cement, so as to present a substantially unobstructed bore through the casingto the discharge ports therein. l

It will be obvious 'to those of skill in this art that various other changes inY construction and arrangement of the several parts hereof may be made, such for instance, as the provision of vertical slots in place'of holes 3I-3I, thus permitting a greater range of opening and closing movement of oat valve 2 6; frangible pins might be substituted for lingers 32 and 33; valve 26 may be made hollow, which construction, being of greater buoyance, will be more sensitive to reversals in pressure differentials, all Without v,departing lfrom the essence of my invention. What I claim and desire to covei` by Letters 1. In an apparatus for cementing oil wells, a well casing, a valve body provided with a valve seat within said casing, a valve formed to t said seat, means for releasablyholding said valve from said valve seat, means actuated by fluid pressure to release said valve, and fluid pressure means to force said valve to and upon its said seat.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a well casing, a pair of float plug bodies held in spaced, relation in said casing, each of said float plug bodies being provided with a valve seat fac- -ing that of the other, a iloat valve releasably associated with one of said seats and adapted to closethe bore of..said casing to pressure from below by contact with said seat, means to release said valve with respect to said seat and pressure means to move said valve to its oppositely facing seat in the other of said float plug bodies to close the bore through said casing to pressure from above.

3. In an apparatus .for cementing oil wells, a well casing,a valve body in said casing having a circular bore, a valveA seat in said bore, a. float valve resiliently and releasably supported adjacent said valve body and adapted to lclose said valve by contact with said seat, and means actuated by fluid pressure to release said valve from operative relationship with said valve seat.

4. In an apparatus of the character described,A a Well casing, a plurality of ports in said casing,

a float plug in said casing below said ports, a valve seat in said float plug, a float valve releasably supported above said ports, means to release said valve to close the bore through said float plug to pressure within the casing, and valve means normally `closing said ports adapted to be 'opened by pressure from within the casing.

5. In an apparatus for cementing oil wells, a well casing, a float plug in said well casing below a port therethrough, a valve body in said casing above said port, a float valve in operative relationship with said valve body, and means actuated by uid pressure to compel said float valve to close the bore of said float plug.

6. In an apparatus of the character described,

, a well casing, a port through said casing disposed at an angle relative to the diameter thereof, a Avalve body in said casing above said port,

a float valve operatively associated with said.

valve body, and means to compel said valve to close the bore through the casing below saidA port. Y

7. In an apparatus .of the character described,

a well casing, a lateral port through said casing,=

valvular means for said port, afloat valve releasably held in said casing above said port,- means actuated by fluid pressure to release A'said float valve and to successively actuate it to close the bore through the casing and expose said port to fluid pressure thereabove within the casing.

8. In a cementing apparatus, a well casing, a

` valve body within said casing, -a oat valve releasably suspended with relation to said Avalve body, a plug adapted for actuation by fluid pres,-

sure to release suspension of said float valve with respect to said valve body, and an indicator plug adapted to seat on said valve body. A y

9. In an apparatus of the character described,

a well casing having a port therein, a valve body above said port, a valve releasably suspended adjacent said valve body to close the bore to pressure therebelow, and means to release said valve to close the bore below the port.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a well casing having a port therein, a float valve within the casing above said port, and means to move said iioat valve to close the bore` below the port.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a well casing having a port therein, a float valve within the casing above said port, and means to open the bore through said float valve by pressure from above and close the bore below said port.

12. In a device of the character described, a well casing, a lateral port in said casing, a float valve resiliently supported in the bore of said casing adjacent said port, and a valve body for said iloat valve above and below said port.

13. In a device of the character described, a well casing, a lateral port in said casing, a float valve resiliently supported in the bore of said casing adjacent said port, a valve body for said float valve above and below said port, and a plug actuated by fluid pressure to compel said valve to contact said lower valve body to close the bore below said port,

14. In a device of the character described, a well casing shoe, a port in said casing shoe, a valve body above and below said port, a valve adapted to seat on eitherof said valve bodies, resilient means normally urging said valve against its upper seat and means actuated by iluid pressure to compel said valve to seat below -said port.

15. In a device of the character described, a well casing, a. port in said casing, a valve within said casing adapted for control by fluid pressure to close the bore through said casing above or below said port, a plug carrying a packer adapted to slidablyengage the wall of the casing to close the bore thereof, and a seat for said plug above said port.

16. In a device of the character described, a Well casing, a pair of annular valve seats spaced apart in the bore of said casing, a valve variably supported between said seats, and a lateral port in the casing between said valve seats bored at an angle with respect to the diameter of the casing to permit iluid discharged therefrom to be swirled around the casing.

17In a device of the character described, a well casing, a pair of annular valve seats spaced apart in the bore of said casing, a valve variably supported between said seats, and a lateral port in the casing between said valve seats bored at an angle with respect to the diameter of thecasing, and variable closure means for said port adapted when opened by fluid pressure to deilect said fluid around said casing.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, a well casing, a valve body within said casing having an upwardly-directed shoulder, a float valve, resilient means connected with said float valve to contact said shoulder to support said valve relative to said valve body, and means to withdraw said resilient means from support by said shoulder.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, a well casing, a valvebody within said casing having an upwardly-directed shoulder, a float valve; resilient means connected with said float valve to contact said shoulder to support s aid valve relative to said valve body, a plug adapted for actuation by uid pressure to withdraw said resilient means from support by said shoulder.

20. I n a device of the character described, well casing having a series of ports, valvular means ,normally closing the ports to prevent the egress of iluid from said ports, a float plug at the lower end of the casing, a float valve 'releasably supported in the bore of the casing above the ports to close the bore thereabove to pressure at the ports, means to release and compel said fioat valve to open said ports and close the bore of the casing below the ports, thus to deflect the flow of said pressure fluid the ports.

21. A device of thecharacter set forth comprising a tubular body, means for connecting said body to a well tubing for forming a continuation of the latter and for lowering into a well with said well tubing, a destructible valve seat at one end of the body, a valve means for permitting seal forming material to pass through the body and form a seal between the body and walls of the well, a check valve seat carried by the firstmentionedv means, a valve located between the valve seats and adapted to engage the rstnamed seat during the placing in and passing of the seal forming material from the body, means for temporarily supporting thc valve adjacent to the second-named seat to act as a check valve for preventing the pressurein the body passing to the well tubing during the lowering of the well tubing, and means for dislodging the valve from its temporary position.

22. In a device of the character described, a

well casing, a lateral port in said casing, a oat `valve resiliently supported in the bore of said.

outwardly through the casing, to actuate said rst-mentioned means to cause the communication of said port and the bore of the casing above said first-mentionedV means.' Y f 24. In a well cementing apparatus, a string of casing having a lateral port therein, said string above said port beingadapted to retain a column of iluid extending to the well surface, a valve in the casing normally closing said port to com munication with the bore of the casing above the valve, and means `comprising a member adapted to by-pass fluid inthe casing tomove said valve below the port and thereby cause communication of said port with the bore of the casing above said means.

25. In combination, a string of casing for a well bore having a lateral port therein, valvular means normally closing the port to pressure in the casing above said valvular means but movable downwardly to open the port to pressure thereabove. and means, comprising a member adapted to upwardly by-pass iiuid in the casing, to actuate said valvular means to open said port to pressure thereabove. l v

26. In a device of the character described, a ported well casing, a float valve adapted to close the bore of the casing above the ports, and

means actuated by iluid pressure above the valve to compel said valve to close the bore below the port to pressure thereabove.

27. A ported well casing; a pair of annular valve bodies in said casing, a valve variably supported Vclose the bore of the casing below the ports.

29. Well casing having a bore for the passage of pressure uid downwardly therethrough, peripheral ports in said casing, a oat valve resiliently supported in the bore of saidcasing above the ports in combination with a oat valve for vthe lower end thereof, means comprising said pressure fluid, and a plug actuated thereby for` releasing said rst named lfloat valve for opening the ports and closing the bore of the casing below the ports.

30. Well casing having a bore for the passage of pressure fluid downwardly therethrough, peripheral ports in said casing, a float valve resiliently supported in the bore of said casing above the ports in combination with a float valve for the lower end thereof, valvular means inside saidv casing tending normally to maintain closure of Asaid ports longitudinallyl slidable therein to open the ports and forming a seat for the rst named oat valve, and a plug actuated by said pressure uid for releasing said rst named oat valve to seat on said valvular means thus to open the ports and close the bore of the casing below the ports.

31. In a device of the character described, the combination of an outer ported member adapted to be connected to the lower end ofl a string of well casing, an inner sleeve valve in said member tending normally to maintain closure of said ports, a plug of lapideous material secured in the lower end of said member tapered inwardly and downwardly to form a guiding end, a passageway formed centrally and longitudinally through said plug, a iloat valve closing the bore of said passageway to pressure therebelow, a second float valve resilientiy supported in said casing above said ports, and a plug actuated by pressure fluid to release said second named float valve to seat upon said sleeve valve for opening the ports and closing the boreof said passageway to pressure thereabove.

32. In a eementing apparatus, a ported well casing, a valve .seat in said casing, a valve adapted to contact said seat by pressure from below, and means actuated by uid pressure to displace said valve with respect tov said seat.

33. In a cementing apparatus, a ported well casing, a valve above the port in said casing adapted to close the bore of the casing to pressure therebelow, and a plug actuated by iiuid pressure to move said valve to the opposite side of said port.

' ERD V. CROWELL. 

